'Scotland has much to be proud of in the way that the pandemic has been managed. I have no doubt that the death toll would have been greater without the unwavering support and close working relationship between the government and the clinical community.' Dr Dr Stephen Cole, President of the Scottish Intensive Care Society Contributor reminders and comments talkingupreminders@gmail.com

BBC Drivetime can’t wash its hands of this scare story

‘Now as the number of coronavirus cases continues to rise in Scotland, concerns [sic] have been raised over hand hygiene at the nation’s biggest hospital. A senior doctor who works as a consultant anaesthetist in the hospital says the supermarkets are doing the better job in ensuring people sanitise their hands than the NHS.’

So it’s the concern, singular, of one medic. No other medic has come forward. She visited two areas and waited for ten minutes. One supermarket was wiping the trolley handles. I’ve been in three recently with no sign of that. So, not a very reliable survey was it? The hospital director contradicts her about the number of sanitisers, points out that there is one where it matters outside every ward and that her madcap idea about volunteers would simply increase the footfall in the hospital which would then increase the spread of the virus.

The consultant is an anaesthetist making much of her length of service but still not an infection control specialist. Why didn’t the BBC speak to one of: Sandra Devine, NHSGGC (Acting) Infection Prevention Control Manager, and supporting Sandra; Pamela Joannidis, (Acting) Associate Nurse Director Infection Prevention Control, and Dr Alistair Leanord, Consultant Microbiologist and Lead Infection Prevention Control Doctor.

And of course, why didn’t the BBC consider any outcomes rather than just dwelling on one woman’s anxiety about what might happen? For example, NHSGGC’s stunnning performance in holding back fatalities with one of the lowest mortality rates for coronavirus in the UK. With only 2 of 91 cases resulting in fatality, Greater Glasgow and Clyde has a mortality rate of only 11 per 1 000, below the Scottish average of 18 and way below the UK average of 54 deaths per 1 000.

5 thoughts on “BBC Drivetime can’t wash its hands of this scare story”

We’ve come to expect this from BBC Scotland. It’s the main reason their viewing figures have collapsed! No-one trusts anything they say anymore! It’s also why Pacific quay is now known as #Colonial Quay!

As more emerges about this story, the more it appears to be the equivalent of ‘a man I met in the pub told me ….’

In this case, it is based on one source, who is a friend of the interviewer, Mr John Beattie. Now, the fact that she is actually a senior doctor – an anaesthetist – who is prepared to identify herself, makes her assertion worthy of respect. I certainly bow to her expertise. However, if BBC Scotland were a reputable journalistic organisation (do such actually still exist?) it would seek the views of the hospital management, other doctors, especially ones whose specialisms are hygiene and the prevention of the spread of infections.

It is clear that the presentation by BBC Scotland is politically motivated, not for the reasonable political purpose of checking that public institutions are run properly, but as part of a continuing attack on the Scottish Government and public services in general.

'Scotland has much to be proud of in the way that the pandemic has been managed. I have no doubt that the death toll would have been greater without the unwavering support and close working relationship between the government and the clinical community.' Dr Dr Stephen Cole, President of the Scottish Intensive Care Society Contributor reminders and comments talkingupreminders@gmail.com

'Scotland has much to be proud of in the way that the pandemic has been managed. I have no doubt that the death toll would have been greater without the unwavering support and close working relationship between the government and the clinical community.' Dr Dr Stephen Cole, President of the Scottish Intensive Care Society Contributor reminders and comments talkingupreminders@gmail.com

'Scotland has much to be proud of in the way that the pandemic has been managed. I have no doubt that the death toll would have been greater without the unwavering support and close working relationship between the government and the clinical community.' Dr Dr Stephen Cole, President of the Scottish Intensive Care Society Contributor reminders and comments talkingupreminders@gmail.com

'Scotland has much to be proud of in the way that the pandemic has been managed. I have no doubt that the death toll would have been greater without the unwavering support and close working relationship between the government and the clinical community.' Dr Dr Stephen Cole, President of the Scottish Intensive Care Society Contributor reminders and comments talkingupreminders@gmail.com